Carrying the Torch of Tyranny

As much as I hate mixing politics with sports—and I do, believe me—it seems to happen every two to four years anyway. 

In addition to holding the most important election in the history of world democracy, 2008 is an Olympic year, and this time they’re coming to Beijing. 

Many people were upset when it was announced that China—which I call “Red China”—got the Olympics, particularly because of their almost 60-year occupation of Tibet, which they call a “peaceful liberation.” 

The ordinary folks can be seen these past few weeks demonstrating, waving Tibetan flags, holding signs, and generally being beaten up by Chinese paramilitary forces sent to guard the torch.  The powerful among the world’s elites, particularly in the IOC, care far less. 

There were many questions as to why the Games of the XXIX Olympiad were awarded to Beijing on July 13, 2001. 

Indeed, in the wake of the Nagano and Salt Lake City bribery scandals, there was certainly no shortage of extra-legal or unethical pretences.  Given the dismal human rights record of the host country and even worse environmental conditions of the host city, one couldn’t help but be quizzical. 

The only reason that would seem to remain, however, would be a sense of historical fairness among the IOC.  Indeed, China will not be the first dictatorship to receive the games, and given their sterling track record for selection, probably won’t be the last. 

The Nazis, of course, got their Olympics in 1936, which Chancellor Adolph Hitler fully intended to use as a means of promoting his racist ideals on the world stage.  All the same, Hitler prudently remembered to remove the most blatantly anti-Semitic signs from Berlin’s public squares. 

The Nazi Olympics are perhaps best remembered for Hitler’s Aryan ideal backfiring rather spectacularly when an African-American Ohio State University alumnus named Jesse Owens won four gold medals and left the "Master Race" in his dust. 

On the whole, the Games were a great success: In fact, the 1936 Olympics were instrumental in reforming both Chancellor Hitler and his regime...right? 

Not to be left out were the Soviets in 1980, who were just coming off an invasion of Afghanistan the year before.  There were protests around the world, but the IOC looked the other way and went forward with the Games many saw as legitimizing Soviet power and ignoring their abuses at home and abroad. 

The only significant form of organized protest came in the form of a US-led boycott (which may have done more harm than good; just ask all the disappointed athletes).  No matter who or how many ignored their Soviet spectacle, the Kremlin still carried on with their occupation of Afghanistan well into the 1980’s.

Now China gets their chance, despite the litany of reasons to hold the games elsewhere (or just about anywhere, for that matter).

China continues to oppress Tibetans as part of an almost 60-year occupation. 

China’s weapons-for-oil deal with Sudan continues to fuel the genocide in Darfur (Steven Spielberg actually quit his role as an Olympic adviser in protest of China’s destructive role in Sudan). 

China has strong military ties to the regime in Burma, which shares China’s apparent goals of beating up defenseless Buddhist monks. 

China continues to stifle dissent with an almost unmatched scale of repression.  China also continues to use capital punishment for even the most trivial of offenses (including tax evasion, corruption, and putting lead in children’s toys) on a scale that is, in fact, unmatched on the world stage.  In 2006 alone, China executed more than 1,000 people, which is more than 10 times the rate of their nearest competitor. 

With China’s one-child policy under strict enforcement (to the point of forced abortions for some families), and with the almost immediate imposition of its use, one could cynically conclude the government uses the death sentence as a means of population control. 

To top it all off, Beijing has some of the worst instances of air and water pollution on the planet.  Indeed, if the secret police, People’s Liberation Army, or paramilitary torch-guarding thugs don’t get you, the toxic air and water surely will.

There is an alternative to the cold shoulder of apathy and ignorance given by the IOC to the millions of Chinese political prisoners and human rights activists throughout the world. 

What’s more, there is another alternative to a Carterian boycott of the Games, which would only serve to harm the nations’ athletes.  World leaders can take a stand by not attending the opening or closing ceremonies (in fact, several have, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Czech President Vaclav Klaus, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper). 

President Bush, however, is unfortunately and, perhaps it was expected, not among those staying home.  “The Decider” has, well, decided he’s going to Beijing anyway. 

Talk show host Laura Ingraham perhaps put it best this morning: the Republican Party has a golden opportunity to place values ahead of dollars.  This summer, it’s time for the rest of us to do the same.